When I was applying for a master's degree, I always couldn't tell what type of course I should apply for. Today Dr. Uoffer will explain to you in detail, I believe that after reading Dr. Uoffer this article, it will definitely be rewarding. Students who need it hurry up and stop it!!
There are two types of master's programs in the UK education system:
▪授课型课程 (Taught Course)，包括MSc，MA，MBA，MPA等；
▪研究型硕士 (Research Course)，包括MRes，MPhil等。
Taught Master's Degree
Taught courses are often chosen by international students for master's programs, which are more cost-effective and easier to apply for than research master's programs. When applying for a master's program, you can prepare the usual required materials and submit your application, and then wait for the result.
❗ It should be noted that individual majors need to submit an essay or interview, and they need to be carefully prepared~
MSc MSc
MSc is the abbreviation of Master of Science. Taught master's degree with a duration of one year. Courses include Lectures, Seminars, Examination, and Short Project, etc., and larger research projects may be held once a year, that is, the Dissertation (graduation thesis) written at graduation, and some majors can also choose to do projects instead of dissertations.
MSc is also a degree that Chinese students often choose to study for a master's degree, and the MSc is similar to the undergraduate system in China, with daily classes, final exams, and a thesis at graduation.
The purpose of the MSc is to increase students' professional knowledge in a certain field, which is relevant and practical, and has little research component. Basically, I kept going to class, learning theories, and finally choosing a topic to write a graduation thesis. This type of course is more suitable for students who have graduated and are employed.
MA Master of Arts
MA is the abbreviation of Master of Arts, Master of Arts, and the duration of study is usually 1 year. The Master of Arts is usually offered to applicants for advancement in the humanities. Applicants need to study at a comprehensive university for at least 8 semesters and pass a dissertation and graduation exam before they can obtain this degree.
The MA course is also a theory-based course with a relatively small research component. This type of course is also more suitable for students who have graduated and are employed.
Research-based courses
Research courses, students who take such courses are thinking of continuing to study for a doctorate or engage in research work, so the application requirements will be higher, and there are not many schools and majors that offer such courses in the UK, and the number of students is also small, which also increases the difficulty of applying.
To apply for such courses, in addition to the regular master's application materials, most of them need to find the corresponding supervisor and set magnetism, which is similar to the process of applying for a doctorate. After finding the appropriate supervisor, you should also prepare your own research plan, and the supervisor will consider whether to accept you with reference to the research plan and the student's academic and research background. This type of course is more suitable for students who have a previous research project background.
MRes Research Master's
MRes stands for Master of Research. The duration of study is one year, and there are also two years. Engineering and science majors are mostly offered. Classes are usually small, as schools expect MRes graduates to go on to pursue a PhD or pursue a research-based career.
MRes is a combination of teaching and research, with a research-led approach, but also classroom delivery. The ratio of research to teaching is about 3:1. More than 70% of research master's courses in the UK are project-based.
Students in research-based courses have more opportunities to interact with the Lectures and Professors of the School, and these research-oriented students show more autonomy, and these students' dissertation topics will be actively close to their intended PhD supervisors. After completing the program, you will have the opportunity to continue your doctoral studies at this school.
MPhil Master of Philosophy
MPhil is the abbreviation of Master of Philosophy. This degree is special in that you can apply for it as a separate degree. However, it is also most often awarded as a degree when a PhD student does not meet the corresponding research standards.
Students who have completed MPhil can choose to skip directly to the final year of their PhD, but this is very difficult to do, so it is recommended to continue applying for a PhD after completing it. The MPhil curriculum is also research-oriented. It is more suitable for a bachelor's degree after completing the program.
❗ It should be noted that the MPhil of the University of Cambridge, also known as MSc or MA in the ordinary sense, is also a one-year program.
To sum it up
If you want to get a job directly after completing your master's degree, then the taught course is completely suitable for you; If you want to continue to do scientific research or doctoral studies after completing your master's degree, you can give priority to a research master's degree.
But Dr. What Uoffer wants to say is that it is also possible to choose a taught master's degree, and it will not affect your continued doctoral studies~